AlternativeMarch 4, 2009 - The U.S. House Energy and Commerce committee today rejected a Republican substitute to the FDA tobacco bill (Youth Prevention and Tobacco Harm Reduction Act) by a vote of 13 in favor and 34 opposed. The Republican amendment was offered by Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana. Buyer's amendment would have created a new tobacco harm reduction center within the Department of Health and Human Services. The center would combine smoking cessation programs with industry strategies to reduce the harm from tobacco products, Republicans said. Aides to Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said he may introduce a similar bill in the Senate.